Which answer choice illustrates a flaw in profiling?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Profiling assumes that human behavior is consistent across time and place, which is a flawed assumption because behavior is often influenced by cultural, social, and environmental factors that vary across individuals, contexts, and situations. Therefore, profiling based on past behavior or statistical patterns does not necessarily predict future behavior accurately.

Answer: C
 Profiling often focuses on victim rather than offender characteristics, which is a flawed approach because it assumes that the victim's behavior or characteristics caused the crime, rather than considering the offender's motives, traits, and actions. This can lead to wrongful convictions, missed opportunities for solving crimes, and bias against certain groups based on stereotypes or prejudices.

Answer: D
 Profiling can sometimes overestimate the intelligence of the offender or assume that the offender has certain skills, knowledge, or motivations based on surface clues or stereotypes. This can lead to wrong assumptions, false leads, or a narrow focus that ignores other possible suspects or theories. Therefore, profiling should be based on empirical evidence, psychological principles, and cross-validation, rather than intuitive or unfounded assumptions.

Which Answer Choice Illustrates a Flaw in Profiling